[nadepalma]

Not all of this is news, but certainly a good synopsis of what is coming - and a bit of speculation as well.

However, the one constant theme in all of this is that much of what GM had/has planned is being rescheduled or readjusted so that the more fuel conscious products come out first - even before stalwart products get revamped.

SOURCE: Motor Authority

Chevrolet lineup set to undergo radical changes
Posted on Monday 25 August 2008

The next several years will be crucial for Chevrolet as the brand tackles some of the biggest problems it’s faced in its entire history, namely, the radical shift away from trucks and SUVs due to high fuel prices and tightening fuel economy restrictions. In response, Chevrolet is planning a raft of new model introductions with the central theme among them being smaller vehicles with correspondingly small engines.

First and foremost in capitalizing on this shift is the new Aveo compact, which will be redesigned for the 2011 model year. The future Aveo is said to have taken inspiration from either the Chevrolet Groove or the Chevrolet Trax concepts that were shown at last year’s New York Auto Show, although General Motors executives won’t say which exact model was the inspiration.

Meanwhile, the recently revealed Cruze sedan will arrive in 2010 as the brand’s first truly global model. Powering the Cruze in North America will be brand new turbocharged four-cylinder lineup called the ‘Family Zero’ range. GM is planning to use its Chevrolet brand to spearhead the introduction of the new engine family, which is expected to appear in the rest of the carmaker’s brands.

The introduction of the highly anticipated Volt plug-in hybrid will take place one year later. Its powertrain will be reserved for a number of new models GM is planning, including a possible Cadillac hybrid as well as several Opel models.

Due to financial problems and tough CAFE regulations, a new Impala has been scrapped. GM was hoping to introduce a premium RWD model based on its Zeta architecture but instead the current model will soldier on for the next several years. Additionally, updates planned for the Malibu have also been cancelled due to resource constraints, reports Automotive News.

The new Camaro will enter production in February as planned, but the convertible version may be held back until the 2012 model year due to GM’s financial situation. Joining the Camaro in roughly four years will be the C7 Corvette, however it’s still too early to speculate on the new model’s specs.

In other segments, Chevrolet’s HHR wagon will be redesigned for 2011, and according to an insider will become much more modern in appearance than its current incarnation and may even include seven-seat capacity.

The Equinox crossover will be redesigned and re-engineered for 2010, while the scheduled makeovers for the Tahoe and Suburban have been put on hold while GM looks at downsizing them using a stretched Lambda platform. The Avalanche may also be in for a diet considering that its 2012 redesign has been put on hold.

MORE HERE

 

[mjd1001]

Not all of this is news, but certainly a good synopsis of what is coming - and a bit of speculation as well.

However, the one constant theme in all of this is that much of what GM had/has planned is being rescheduled or readjusted so that the more fuel conscious products come out first - even before stalwart products get revamped.

SOURCE: Motor Authority



MORE HERE

Most of it sounds good. However, don't like the possiblity of a 7 passenger HHR type vehicle (if anything, make an HHR derivitive a FWD pickup with great economy for light duty)....nor do I like hearing updates for the Malibu have been canceled (GM REALLY doesn't need to have a good new car get too long in the tooth so it is no longer competitive in 2-3 years from now.)

 

[Greg Burr]

Please do not make the HHR with a third row seat. Keep as is or give it a little more greenhouse, improved interior materials and AWD.

 

[jckjds]

The Good:

Moving up production of small/fuel efficient cars. Excellent move. Just make them class leading in fuel economy --- no excuses. Cancelling the RWD Impala is fine. RWD should be reserved for the performance brands, anyway (e.g. Pontiac and Caddy)

The Bad:

Cutting out updates for the malibu. This is THE MOST IMPORTANT CAR in the entire lineup. It needs to have/build a good reputation. Scrap the Impala's updates before the Malibu's for God's sake.

The Ugly:

Scrapping the BOF Tahoe and Suburban would be a mistake. Notwithstanding high gas prices, some people will always have a need for a BOF suv for towing/hauling. Future models just need to be designed and planned with a more limited market in mind. Everything else can be unibody, but reserve at least these two models to be BOF. Hell, you have to have a truck platform, anyway, so why not put one SUV model on it to cover that market?

 

[drew770]

The Malibu update cancellations is a disappointment and so is the Impala redesign. I don't understand how GM hopes to have the Impala soldier on when it is already pretty long in the tooth.
But if Chevy is going though this then what is happening with Pontiac?

 

[fp115]

Hell, you have to have a truck platform, anyway, so why not put one SUV model on it to cover that market?

The truck platform is changing dramatically, no need to have SUVs on them either. Added frame weight isn't needed on an SUV. If you've driven the Tahoe versus the Traverse you would see the difference.

 

[jlt0x]

Please do not make the HHR with a third row seat. Keep as is or give it a little more greenhouse, improved interior materials and AWD.

Agreed. But I would like to see the HHR with a more modern/refined exterior. It can keep the basic exterior dimensions (length, width, height). I'd like to see a more familiar front/rear facia. It wouldn't hurt to design AWD for it. (May not be necessary with the new Equinox in the line-up.) Also, GM should increase interior content (cd-changer, nav, rear DVD)...that would make it even more enticing with in its category.

 

[stick076]

The truck platform is changing dramatically, no need to have SUVs on them either. Added frame weight isn't needed on an SUV. If you've driven the Tahoe versus the Traverse you would see the difference.

There is one major reason to have SUV's on BOF... TOWING!!!!!!! A glorified minivan just cannot compete.

There will always be a need for the Suburban and Silverado... just not nearly as much as before.

 

[jcgable]

RIP Impala.
RIP all of the success the Malibu has built up.

 

[Ultra Magnus]

So does this mean that GM is expecting people with families that tow to switch to Crew Cab Silverados? Yes the Tahoe and Suburban (Yukon and Yukon XL) are a limited purpose vehicle going forward but they are still needed. Granted most who buy Tahoes around here don't pull loads anywhere near their capacity. I can almost stomach a unibody Tahoe if the Suburban is kept BOF.

And no updates for the Malibu, now there is a mistake. To remain current you have to offer what your competitors do even if you have a low take rate. A Malibu without Nav and interior/exterior updates, is just wrong. I know times are tough but to move metal, give people what they want, not big sales.

 

[JerryL]

I believe the Impala can tread water with just it's sales to rental fleets and national accounts.

 

[buildacariwant]

sounds like the current lineup will soilder on until 2010...ouch.

at least good news since theres no mention of the cobalt maybe it will go away when the cruze arrives. hopefully.

 

[Ambalanche]

RIP Impala.
RIP all of the success the Malibu has built up.

Exactly. The Impala should be comeing out with an all new model for 2010, lot's of people here were saying the current Malibu was just a stop-gap until the all new super-duper-amazing Malibu showed up in 2011. I knew that was too good to be true, but if GM is going to now abandon the needed updates/replacements for this segment, what else is there for GM? I become more frustrated every day. I see some glimmers of hope with the CTS wagon and coupe, but GM always seems to produce one winner and hang on to that without subsequent hits to keep the public's attention...

 

[skylark68]

I can see getting rid of the Tahoe on BOF, but not the Suburban. In the dark days of the '80s, the Suburban was one of the few family vehicles available that could also tow a 20' sailboat and trailer. My Dad bought a Suburban just for this purpose. He wanted a Buick Estate Wagon, but the only engine available and rear end was too wimpy. The Suburban was not a massive volume vehicle back then. When we went on vacation to the East Coast, we had just about the only one on the road back then.

The Traverse cannot replace the Suburban.

 

[WishIhadatruck]

I don't like the idea of delaying Malibu updates at all. That car is one of GM's best right now and seems to be helping the public at large see that GM is capable of making competitive and desirable cars. If they don't keep updating it and keep it fresh and competitive then it will only hurt GM's image. They really can't afford to let one of the most important cars in the line-up get stale. Mid-size car sales could be come even more important if people continue to downsize out of SUV's.

I don't mind a Lambda Tahoe if it is beefed up enough to handle higher towing loads. The Traverse is pretty much the same size as a Tahoe already so what would be the point of a having both anymore? BOF is not necessary to tow heavy loads, it is just the easiest/cheapest way to do it. Unibody construction can be just as strong.

 

[dindak]

RIP Impala.
RIP all of the success the Malibu has built up.

I don't think the Malibu needs much in the way of updates, it should sell very well as is for at least 3 years.

Impala needs at least a little refresh but given it's age, OHV engines and 4-speed transmissions, it really does need more than just a refresh. Not great news.

 

[sepi]

Good to hear no more money will be wasted on Malibore. This car would require a complete redo from top to bottom and would make an expensive makeover to cure huge deficiencies in the current model - lack of interior room, egress issues, poor trunk accessibility, and too narrow (or designed to look too thin). While the current Malibore is lightyears from the old one, it needed to be hundreds of lightyears ahead - this was as much of a half-step effort that is unable to combat the current Camcord and is hugely ill-prepared to tackle the next generation of them.

 

[hercman]

Doom. I forsee doom.

First off good for the Aveo and Cruze. But here's the doom. Malibu update cancelled? Great take the car that is turning things around and let it stagnate. Now GM is just handing sales over to the ever dull Camry. Impala to soldier on? This incarnation has already outlived it's self and either needs to go or get updated. Modernizing the HHR is good. A third row 7 passenger? Is doable in Europe but stateside...

As much as I want a Volt I forsee delays and cost over runs that will be passed onto the consumer and if they can't sell it for under 32k it will be a flop.

 

[GMFAN85]

Exactly. The Impala should be comeing out with an all new model for 2010, lot's of people here were saying the current Malibu was just a stop-gap until the all new super-duper-amazing Malibu showed up in 2011. I knew that was too good to be true, but if GM is going to now abandon the needed updates/replacements for this segment, what else is there for GM? I become more frustrated every day. I see some glimmers of hope with the CTS wagon and coupe, but GM always seems to produce one winner and hang on to that without subsequent hits to keep the public's attention...

Notice how the article states "updates", not redesign. The new Ep II platform Malibu is being designed right now. They're not going to stop it half-way through the process. There was nothing in the blurb that stated that the redesign isn't still on track.


Impala's canceled redesign is unfortunate but necessary and it's already been known here and on every GM enthusiast website for months.

I just can't get over the doom and gloom that appears on this website when a tiny article like this, based mostly on speculation and news that has already been covered almost everyday on GMI, shows up.

None of this is final information until GM says so.

Even if all of it is true, it's showing that GM is committed to smaller vehicles. Umm... isn't that what you guys were whining about for years? Now that they're delivering, you're upset they're not producing a huge RWD vehicle that would compete only with the increasingly unpopular Chrysler 300C or that the huge SUVs, that are no longer selling, are being replaced with new and similarly sized fuel-efficient vehicles in order to regain the market.

So what if they can't tow 10,000 lbs. How many Tahoes/Yukons do you see on the road every day that are towing boats or huge trailers? I've seen maybe one or two in the past year and I do a lot of traveling on the highway.

They still have the Silverado and the Sierra. It no longer makes any sense to keep the GMT900 SUVs around when they are staying on dealer lots for months and months without any movement and are given huge rebates in order to sell.

Stop whining.

 

[elgreen]

The loss of the RWD Impala makes me ill...does anybody else wonder if GM is overreacting to CAFE, or is it justification to make more rental-fleet queens? Does the market really want more cheaply-made, throwaway, pressed-out boxes with four wheels and torqueless multivalve engines?

Call me old, but the RWD Impala was GM's great white hope, the one "gotta have" product. Remember that phrase? THAT was the car that could have brought respect to GM. A real cam-in-block V8, RWD CHEVROLET sedan - no others need apply, including Pontiac. Pontiac's image is so tarnished I don't know if the excellent G8 can even help.

As the billboards asks, will people line the streets in twenty years to see what we drove? Not hardly, our FWD disposable ****boxes will be long gone to China as scrap metal. Ugh.